Ocado and Beano have partnered to release a comic-themed cookbook aimed at reducing household food waste.
- The cookbook features playful recipes with familiar comic characters to engage families and children.
- The release includes educational efforts with Beano for Schools to inform children about cooking and food waste.
- Research from Ocado highlights a lack of discussion about food waste between parents and children.
- The initiative aims to address environmental awareness and improve the utility of household groceries.
Ocado, in collaboration with Beano, has launched a groundbreaking comic cookbook designed to combat food waste in households. The cookbook, which is available in both print and online, presents recipes that creatively use commonly wasted foods like bananas and bread. By incorporating beloved comic characters into the recipes, the cookbook strives to make cooking a fun and engaging activity for families, particularly children.
The cookbook is accompanied by a series of educational lesson plans under the ‘Beano for Schools’ programme, targeted at Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 students. This initiative aims to educate children about the importance of food conservation and creative cooking techniques, fostering early awareness about food waste and sustainability.
Findings from Ocado’s recent research indicate significant gaps in communication about food waste within families. Over half of the parents surveyed admitted not discussing food waste with their children, while approximately 37% of children expressed a desire to cook more at home. Despite these gaps, a majority of parents believe that their children possess greater environmental knowledge compared to themselves at the same age.
Recent supermarket policy changes, such as removing ‘best before’ dates from fresh produce, have been shown to enhance grocery utilisation in approximately 25% of households. This action aligns with the goals of the cookbook, promoting extended freshness of food staples and reducing unnecessary waste.
Ben Fogle, who has been involved in the project, expresses enthusiasm about integrating into Beano’s iconic universe through the cookbook. He remarked on the importance of engaging children with clever culinary practices to maximise the lifespan of fresh ingredients, encouraging interactive cooking sessions at home. Rachel Cox-Reynolds from Ocado underscores the company’s commitment to helping families extend the life of their groceries, noting that food often remains fresh longer than perceived.
The partnership between Ocado and Beano highlights an innovative approach to tackling food waste through creative cooking and education.
